The New Hampshire coaches association and the Vermont basketball coaches association have agreed to bring back the Twin State Games this summer. The game will feature the top 12 Boys and Girls from all classes in both states. Games will be played at Essex High School on July 13, 2013 with the Girls playing at 6:00pm and the Boys at 8:00pm.

Coaching Staffs and Players will be named later this week.

Saturday, March 23NHBCO SENIOR ALL STAR GAMES (BOX SCORES)

MARCH 23, 2013

All games were hosted by Paul Hogan/Sports management department at NHTI in Concord

Achievement is a trademark of Ashley Clough of Keene and Tyler Gendron of Merrimack, this year’s Miss And Mr. NH Basketball.

Selected by the New Hampshire Basketball Coaches Organization, these award recipients exhibited commitment, integrity, passion and work ethic on the basketball court as well as in the classroom and community.

Gendron’s adaptability and positive attitude helped the Tomahawks endure an injury-plagued regular season and peak come tourney time to claim the Division I title. He played every position this season, taking on the opposing team’s best offensive player while also shouldering his team’s scoring responsibility, particularly when junior guard Dimitri Floras was out with a broken wrist.

“Adversity can make you stronger if you work with it,” said Gendron who credited his parents Julie and Peter with instilling his drive to succeed and put academics first. “You have to study and hit the books because I’m not going to make a career out of playing basketball, that’s for sure.”

The 6-foot-4 forward averaged 15 points and nine rebound a game, muscling inside for points as well as swishing long treys. The three-year starter netted his 900th point in the championship game.

A high honor roll student, Gendron is ranking 52nd in a class of 365 with a 3.5 GPA. He’s a regular volunteer with the Merrimack Youth Association, and also devotes time serving as an academic tutor to freshman. He also volunteers at a local soup kitchen.

A four-year, three-sport athlete, Clough averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds this season while helping the Blackbirds reach the Division I quarterfinals. She’s been an all-state selection in hoops and field hockey and starts on Keene’s lacrosse team.

“Being involved in athletics been really important to me,” said Clough, a National Honor Student. “It helps me manage my time. By being busy, you can’t put everything off to the last minute. And, sports opens up opportunities to serve the community.”

An unselfish player and comfortable playing guard or forward, Clough tallied over 1,300 points, setting the girl’s career scoring record and landing in second place on the school’s overall all-time scoring list. The four-year starter hit 42 percent of her treys. Clough topped 25 points in one game on seven occasions as well as tallying 14 career double-doubles.

A scholar athlete since her first quarter as a freshman, Clough owns a 3.75 grade point average. Over the past three years she has devoted each Saturday morning to coaching aspiring kindergarten athletes. Clough is active as a Special Olympics volunteer.

Initiated in 2007, the scholar awards are named after Jack Ford, the NHBCO founder and a longtime Winnacunnet of Hampton basketball coach and teacher. Ford, who died during in 2010, encouraged study and service as well as sports and sportsmanship.

At 6-foot-8, Swedberg amassed big accomplishments in his high school career. A four-year starting center he help Moultonborough to two Division IV titles, including this season’s undefeated run while averaging 18 points a game, over 100 defensive rebounds , 65 blocks, 35 steals and 68 assists. He hit 57 percent of his free throws.

A National Honor Society member since his sophomore year, Swedberg owns a weighted 4.62 GPA. He hopes to pursue a civil engineering degree in college. He is a longtime volunteer with the town recreation department and a prominent part of the school mentor-mentee program, working with grade school students.

A true team player, Gray played all five positions this season while averaging 15 points while grabbing four rebounds and dishing out four assists each game. She’s ranked second in her class with a 99.07 GPA (on a scale of 100).

She made significant contributions in her volunteer role at the Wentworth-Douglas Hospital assisting patients and staff. Gray also organized and managed a Coe-Brown girls’ basketball camp.

Eric Emmerling covers high school basketball for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. Write him at eemmerling@unionleader.com.

Friday, March 23NHBCO Granite State Games Results; Hosted by NHTI

Division IV Girls 73 – Division III Girls 60

Division II Girls 71 – Division I Girls 68

Division III Boys 92 – Division IV Boys 77

Division I Boys 93 – Division II Boys 92

CONCORD, N.H. — NHTI, Concord’s Community College was the host site for the NHBCO’S Granite State Games. The Granite State Games match-up the top boys and girls high school basketball seniors from all four conferences. Division one battles division two and division three faces division four.

The division two girls defeated the division one girls 71-68. Leading the D2 team was Katie Stopera (Hollis-Brookline) 13 points, Jane White (Souhegan) 10 points with six rebounds, and Tori Forrest (Souhegan) 10 rebounds. The top performers for the D1 team were Emily Rose (Timberlane) 18 points, Amra Elezovic (Memorial) 17 points with six rebounds, and Lia Nawn (Trinity) 12 points with five boards.

In boys action the division three team topped the division four team 92-77. Leading the D3 squad were Tyler Weinstein (Hillsboro) 17 points, Jake Drouin (Berlin) 11 points, and Ethan Dickerson (Mascoma) 10 points. The leaders for the D4 team were Tyler Burt (Groveton) 13 points with six rebounds, Donovan Emerson (Pittsfield) 12 points with seven boards, Nathan Smith (Groveton) 12 points with five rebounds, and Marcus Swedberg (10 points).

In addition, the following athletes were named Players of the Year by the NHBCO:

- Tyler Gendron (Merrimack High School) – Division I Boys

- Kamahl Walker (Portsmouth High School) – Division II Boys

- Curtis Arsenault (Berlin High School) – Division III Boys

- Marcus Swedberg (Moultonborough Academy) – Division IV Boys

- Meagan Green (Bishop Guertin High School) – Division I Girls

- Jane White (Souhegan high School) – Division II Girls

- Becca Arnone (Campbell High School) – Division III Girls

- Bethany Kalliel (Derryfield School) – Division IV Girls

One NH Boy and one NH Girl Basketball Senior are named the Jack Ford Outstanding Scholar for their efforts on the court, in the classroom and in the community. Meredith Grady (Coe-Brown) and Marcus Swedberg (Moultonborough Academy) are this years winners. Also, one male and female NH Basketball player is named Mr. and Miss Basketball. Ashley Clough (Keene) and Tyler Gendron (Merrimack) were the 2011-12 receipts of this award.